I spent a fabulous 5+ hours on Sunday with the lovely ladies from Bespoke Atelier at their studio in the Glue Factory at Garscube Industrial Estate in Glasgow. I had bought a voucher from Itison for one of their beginner textile printing workshops, and it might be the best voucher I’ve ever bought from them (well, the annual 60% off Mandors fabric vouchers might come close ;o) ).
Armed with a pile of sugar paper, pencils, rubbers and some craft knives, we set to creating our own stencils, which we’d use for the screen printing on some roughly fat eighths of calico. I had done some preliminary sketches of ideas I wanted to try, and got several of them done, as well as a wee play with something I saw in their bundle of inspiration pictures too. One or two of my fellow course attendees may have been a tad overambitious, given how little they were able to take away, but everyone seemed happy when they left. This is what I came up with:
After seeing the new Lucy’s Crab Shack line from Sweetwater (which I will be buying imminently!) I wanted to try a whimsical washing line, so this was my first effort. I was pleased with how the line came out, since I had to just cut a series of wee channels for it (if I’d cut it all the way along I would have ended up with floating bits between the pegs that would have been awkward to try and place for masking purposes.) This is about a 12″ long line of washing.
This was something that caught my eye from their inspiration pile, which contained a Scandinavian type collection of flowers, although this is rather more straight laced than the more childlike sketches in their picture. You can see I needed to extend the masking to the left, as that was ink that went past the edge of the paper, but I can cut it down when I come to use it if I want. It’s about 8″ high anyway.
For my next attempt, I wanted to try a VW camper van. I’d seen some great images of them lately, and I loved the pouches that Judith made recently, one of which she brought to FQR. When I was looking for photos of them online to do a sketch from last night, it was the ones with the original style that I thought would look best head on. I sketched some side views too, and of a beetle, but I didn’t have time to get to them this time. I love how this came out, and the girl running the class suggested I frame it! I think I might work it into something, but I’m not sure what yet… It’s about 8″ high if anyone has any ideas.
Finally we were given a tote bag to decorate, so I had a play with some beach huts and a striped screen that I’d found. If I’d had more time, I’d have done some channels down the sides and bottom when I did the blue layer to help them stand out more, but at least I know for next time :o)
I had so much fun, I’ve signed up for their intermediate weekend course at the end of August, when we’ll be getting to work with screens where the image is exposed onto a screen rather than the fiddly cutting out of stencils, and I’m really looking forward to seeing how that will work, and what sort of intricacies I can come up with!
You are a woman of multiple talents! Lovely!
These are fantastic. I love the clothesline.
Hugs
So cool! (This may be a dumb question, but what is sugar paper?)
What a great idea – must get my dictionary out and work out what these things are in czech and find some courses!
Oops forgot to say that the campervan is ace!
Oops forgot to say that the campervan is ace!
That looks like lots of fun!
Love them all but the campervan is fabulous. I think you should do more and give one to each of us in Brit Bee. ๐ Just a suggestion!!!
What fun! Love your attempts (and also the britbeeblocks).
What a great way to spend a Sunday, can't wait to see what you create next time!
What a great way to spend a Sunday, can't wait to see what you create next time!
Love them! Off to google suitable paints for fabric printing now!
Excellent!
am slightly jealous… Sounds like fun, love what you've come back with, especially the vw ๐
That looks like so much fun! Next you'll be printing your own fabric line =D
How exciting. Trying new fabric things is so invigorating.
I love your washing line
xxxx
I too am impressed by you doing a VW camper!
I got to try screen printing back in my school days (was I the only boy enjoying home economics?!) … I did a slightly wonky, slightly skinny trebble clef in black on a sleevless brown t-shirt that I also made …. in the words of Fred, "I'm too sexy for my t-shirt" … well maybe when I was in high school ๐ …. now I'm more along the lines of "right said Fred, let's have a cup of tea!" …. (apologies to those who don't remember those musical masterpieces!)
PS sugar paper, yum yum!
PPS. the t-shirt may still be languishing in a drawer somewhere so maybe one day I'll terrorise you all with a photo!
Sounds like a whole lotta fun! Great prints! Jxo
That looks like great fun. Do you get to keep the stencils to make more later?
Oooh, lovely! I've been looking at methods of silk screening using mod podge, but you had to block the unpainted bits, rather than cut away the painted, your class looks great fun
Wow I love the idea of printing your own fabric and it looks like you had a great time! Can't wait to see what you do as an intermediate!
that vw… be still my heart! love it!
Oh my goodness this is SUPER COOL! You've got my heart fluttering over here!
these are fabulous! i especially love the line of washing ๐
Your prints are fabulous! I am, once again, jealous of the class you got to attend that I didn't. :>
I love it! You can ignore my other comment. I now know how you did it!
Awesome! Now can you slow down and stop acquiring new skills so the rest of us aren't left in the dust?
Having a major catch up – this looks like it was an excellent day, your efforts are super, love the beetle & the washing line.
Must keep my eyes peeled on Itison..